Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain by Charles R. Cross

4 reviews

finch_kid's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Chronic illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Mental illness, and Addiction

iamninjabuni's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

2.0

The author took a lot of liberties, especially at the end, when there is no definitive way to know where Cobain was or what he was up to during his last few days. Even the police and hired private investigators could not determine the timeline. The story he tells of the last moments of Kurt's life is especially frustrating because it is entirely made up, giving feelings and actions that the author could not know. Charles Cross also seems to have some distain for Kurt and often frames him as a bratty, whiney, entitled child. And maybe he was, but that's not what I came here to read. I was looking for something a little more objective with stories rooted in fact. 

Learning (after the fact) that this is the Courtney Love Approved tale of events also docked some stars. I should have known by how little Dave Grohl is mentioned throughout the book and by the way the author doesn't seem to have any quotes from him at all. Their feud is more legendary than Kurts parent's divorce (see what I did there?). When Grohl is mentioned it is usually to say he was about to be kicked out of the band, which does not gel with any other accounts of the Nirvana story.

I guess we will never get a completely real telling of Cobain's life. This book gave a good picture of his early years, but the final narrative reeks of outside influence and trying to save face.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Addiction, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Mental illness

danimacuk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

This biography is comprehensive and heartbreaking. It details the struggles Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain faced throughout his life with honesty  
and compassion.

A must-read for those interested in the intersections of class, addiction, fame, and family.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Classism, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Grief, and Vomit

Minor: Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Violence

cclarett's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

So beautiful 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Excrement, and Grief